"Good writers are able to communicate emotion in their works.
Books can make us laugh, bring us to tears, or draw out our anger and indignation....
[I]t was not so long ago that the only way to communicate
with someone at a distance was to write to them."
Murphy, L. J. & Mithcell, D. L. (1998). When writing helps to heal: Email as therapy. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 26(1), 21-32.
Why choose online counselling?
While online counselling can be similar to traditional, face-to-face therapy in many respects, there are some distinct differences. With therapeutic email, individualized support from a qualified, experienced psychologist is available at your fingertips, from the comfort of your own home, at a time and pace that is most convenient for you.
There are many advantages to choosing online counselling, including:
There are many advantages to choosing online counselling, including:
- Greater accessibility for those who live in rural or remote communities, who don't have access to private or public transportation, or who prefer written (vs. verbal) communication.
- Flexibility: Seek and receive personalized, one-on-one support from the comfort of your own home, at times that suit you best -- no appointment necessary!
- Have a permanent, word-for-word account of what has occurred in all of your therapy sessions.
- The ability to read and re-read your therapy sessions can lead to greater self-awareness, understanding, and discovery.
- Feel empowered to take more immediate action by writing about issues or events 'in the moment,' as they arise.
- The recursive nature of writing -- that is, the very act of writing, adding, deleting, and editing text -- can be therapeutic in and of itself
Online counselling via email: How does it actually work?
I have been trained in delivering a particular type of online counselling, called therapeutic email. This is not a usual form of email communication; it will be important to allow yourself plenty of time to read, think about, and respond to the therapeutic emails you receive. Since you would spend about an hour in my office if we were doing face-to-face therapy, I will encourage you to spend about the same amount of time composing your replies to me. Likewise, I will spend approximately 50 minutes thoughtfully composing my therapeutic responses to you (with an additional 10 minutes allotted for administrative activities). This is how one “session” of online counselling is defined.
Once you have securely registered, you will be asked to complete an intake questionnaire and you will also receive a separate email message containing more detailed information about the actual process of email counselling. Once you have written your initial message outlining your current concerns, I will provide response within approximately five days and once payment has been received. Subsequent sessions are typically spaced about one week apart, but this may vary depending on your personal needs and preferences.
Once you have securely registered, you will be asked to complete an intake questionnaire and you will also receive a separate email message containing more detailed information about the actual process of email counselling. Once you have written your initial message outlining your current concerns, I will provide response within approximately five days and once payment has been received. Subsequent sessions are typically spaced about one week apart, but this may vary depending on your personal needs and preferences.
Is it really possible to develop a therapeutic relationship online?
One of the most common questions people ask about online counselling is whether a strong, trusting therapeutic relationship can be established through an online medium. A variety of skills and strategies are utilized in online therapeutic communication that serve to overcome the potential challenges of text-only communication, and which facilitate a warm, caring, therapeutic relationship.
Is online counselling safe and secure?
Yes; all online counselling sessions, whether via email or live chat, will take place via secure and encrypted channels.
If you opt to receive online counselling via email, you will also be asked to create a Hushmail email account. Hushmail uses a secure email interface with industry-standard encryption technology to protect your privacy and confidentiality. Creating an account is quick, simple, and free. Please take care to protect your email password to ensure that your account cannot be accessed by anyone else but you. If you are interested in reading more about Hushmail's security and encryption technology, please click here.
The use of technology for therapeutic purposes presents some unique challenges and risks to client confidentiality. Some of these risks may include:
These risks are greatly reduced with the use of secure encryption software.
If you opt to receive online counselling via email, you will also be asked to create a Hushmail email account. Hushmail uses a secure email interface with industry-standard encryption technology to protect your privacy and confidentiality. Creating an account is quick, simple, and free. Please take care to protect your email password to ensure that your account cannot be accessed by anyone else but you. If you are interested in reading more about Hushmail's security and encryption technology, please click here.
The use of technology for therapeutic purposes presents some unique challenges and risks to client confidentiality. Some of these risks may include:
- The possibility that messages may not be received,
- The possibility that messages sent via email may be permanently recorded on certain servers, and
- The possibility that confidentiality may be breached by unauthorized monitoring or interception of messages sent.
These risks are greatly reduced with the use of secure encryption software.
Is online counselling confidential?
Confidentiality is the foundation of any client-therapist relationship, and I am ethically and legally obligated to safeguard your information and the manner in which I collect, use, and share it with others. Your information is protected by the Health Information Act.
It is important for you to know that there are some specific situations in which your confidential information may be disclosed to others without your informed, written consent. These include:
In the case that your information has been or must be shared without your consent, you will be notified of this disclosure at the earliest possible opportunity. Disclosure will be limited only to what is necessary to be shared, and only to those who reasonably need to know.
Additionally, there are some circumstances under which I may seek professional supervision or consultation in order to provide the most effective and appropriate service. Some of your personal information may be shared in this case.
As per standards set out by the College of Alberta Psychologists, client records will maintained and securely stored for a minimum of 10 years.
It is important for you to know that there are some specific situations in which your confidential information may be disclosed to others without your informed, written consent. These include:
- Where there are reasonable and probable grounds to believe that your safety or the safety of another person is at risk,
- Where there are reasonable and probable grounds to believe that a child or vulnerable adult is in need of protection, or
- When information is subpoenaed by a court of law for the purposes of legal proceedings.
In the case that your information has been or must be shared without your consent, you will be notified of this disclosure at the earliest possible opportunity. Disclosure will be limited only to what is necessary to be shared, and only to those who reasonably need to know.
Additionally, there are some circumstances under which I may seek professional supervision or consultation in order to provide the most effective and appropriate service. Some of your personal information may be shared in this case.
As per standards set out by the College of Alberta Psychologists, client records will maintained and securely stored for a minimum of 10 years.
Is online counselling right for me?
I'm glad that you have decided to reach out and seek support, and hope to have the opportunity to be a small part of your journey! While online counselling can be a great option for many people, there are some issues for which it may not be the best approach. This self-screening questionnaire can help you determine whether another form of counselling might be more suited to your needs.
Are there risks associated with counselling?
There are benefits and risks to engaging in any form of counselling or psychotherapy. The potential risks may include the following:
Despite these risks, therapy has generally been shown to benefit those who choose to engage in it. While some uncomfortable feelings may emerge in the short term, therapy often leads to a significant long-term reduction in feelings of distress, increased satisfaction in relationships, greater personal awareness and insight, and development of more effective coping skills. Therapy will require hard work and active effort on your part, both within and outside of sessions, to be most beneficial.
Please feel free to bring up questions or concerns you may have at any time during the therapy process. In the case that we decide it would be best not to continue working together, I will be glad to explore other options with you, such as a referral to another mental health professional who might be more suitable to address your individual needs.
- You may experience uncomfortable feelings, such as sadness, guilt, fear, anxiety, frustration, anger, or loneliness, because the process of therapy often explores some of the more difficult aspects of your life.
- You may find yourself recalling unpleasant memories either during or in between sessions, which is a normal part of the therapy process.
- Your relationships with the people closest to you may begin to change, as you begin to learn more about yourself and find new ways of coping and problem solving.
- You may find that therapy is simply not a good fit for you.
Despite these risks, therapy has generally been shown to benefit those who choose to engage in it. While some uncomfortable feelings may emerge in the short term, therapy often leads to a significant long-term reduction in feelings of distress, increased satisfaction in relationships, greater personal awareness and insight, and development of more effective coping skills. Therapy will require hard work and active effort on your part, both within and outside of sessions, to be most beneficial.
Please feel free to bring up questions or concerns you may have at any time during the therapy process. In the case that we decide it would be best not to continue working together, I will be glad to explore other options with you, such as a referral to another mental health professional who might be more suitable to address your individual needs.
Can I remain anonymous and still receive online counselling?
No. Ethical guidelines prohibit me from providing therapeutic services to you without knowing your identity, age, and location. It is important for me to know who and where you are in the case that, for example, a crisis situation situation arises where you or another person's safety may be at risk. As a psychologist, I am bound by a strict ethical code of confidentiality. . . but there are limits to that confidentiality in extreme circumstances. This article provides a helpful and brief overview of some of these issues associated with anonymity and online counselling.
Having said this, do keep in mind that one of the benefits of online counselling is that it can provide you with an increased sense of personal privacy, even if it cannot provide complete anonymity. You can communicate with your therapist from the comfort of your own home, without the risk of anyone seeing you walking into an office or sitting in a waiting area.
Having said this, do keep in mind that one of the benefits of online counselling is that it can provide you with an increased sense of personal privacy, even if it cannot provide complete anonymity. You can communicate with your therapist from the comfort of your own home, without the risk of anyone seeing you walking into an office or sitting in a waiting area.
What are your fees?
If we were doing face-to-face therapy, we would typically spend about 50 minutes together per session. In comparison, I will spend about 50 minutes thoughtfully composing my therapeutic responses to you, with an additional 10 minutes allotted for administrative activities (you are likewise encouraged to spend about an hour composing your responses back to me). This is how one “session” of email therapy is defined.
Counselling rates are currently set as follows:
All payment is due in advance and may be made via PayPal or email transfer. Sliding scale fees may be considered in some circumstances; please contact me if this is an option you would like to explore.
For ease of comparison, please note that the recommended fee schedule endorsed by the Psychologists' Association of Alberta is currently $180 per hour for individual therapy services.
Counselling rates are currently set as follows:
- 1 email counselling session: $150
- Package of 3 email counselling sessions: $405 ($135/session)
- 50-minute telephone counselling session: $180
- 50-minute online chat session: $180
All payment is due in advance and may be made via PayPal or email transfer. Sliding scale fees may be considered in some circumstances; please contact me if this is an option you would like to explore.
For ease of comparison, please note that the recommended fee schedule endorsed by the Psychologists' Association of Alberta is currently $180 per hour for individual therapy services.
Do you offer refunds?
Therapy sessions are non-refundable. Your success in therapy is dependent upon mutual cooperation and participation. I believe that an improved state of mental health and well-being is an important and worthwhile investment of your time and money, and in turn, I will make it my top priority to provide the most valuable service I possibly can to you.
What are my rights as a client?
As per the College of Alberta Psychologists, as a client receiving psychological services, you are entitled to the following rights:
- You are free to withdraw your consent and terminate therapy at any time, without obligation to your psychologist.
- You have the right to considerate, safe, and respectful care.
- You have the right to ask questions about any aspect of your treatment or about your psychologist's specific training and experience.
- You have the right to expect that your psychologist will maintain a professional relationship with you at all times, and that he or she will avoid all other forms of interaction that could compromise this professional relationship, including friendship, romantic or sexual relationships, business or financial relationships, and collegial or student relationships.
I live outside the province of Alberta. Can I still receive online counselling from you?
My professional regulatory body, the College of Alberta Psychologists, states that a psychologist registered in the province of Alberta may not practice in any other jurisdiction without first gaining licensure in that jurisdiction. Therefore, I am only able to offer services to those residing in Alberta at this time. If you live outside Alberta, please click here to find resources that may assist you in locating a therapist in your area.
I still have questions. Can I contact you to find out more?
Absolutely! I will be happy to answer any questions you might have about me or my practice. Please feel free to contact me at any time.
Please note that I do not provide crisis counselling, and cannot guarantee that I will be available at all times to respond to urgent messages. If you are currently in crisis, please contact your nearest emergency department or a Crisis Intervention Hotline in your area.
